1st Advantage MortgageThe median Harrison County household earns $54,367, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Harrison County
- How much Harrison County households make
- Employment and commuting in Harrison County
- What it costs to live in Harrison County
- How Harrison County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Harrison County
- Debt-to-income at Harrison County's medians
- People and households in Harrison County
- Reading the Harrison County data as a borrower
- A Harrison County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Harrison County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Harrison County
Harrison County is home to about 8,190 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 98th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 723 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Harrison County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Bethany is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 3,080 people (38% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Harrison County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Harrison County households make
Harrison County households have a median income of $54,367 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 83rd of 115 in Missouri.
| Band | Harrison County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.0% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.7% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.1 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.6% of Harrison County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.406 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Harrison County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Harrison County residents work in education and health care and 18% in retail trade. Retail trade stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Harrison County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Harrison County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +6.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -4.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What it costs to live in Harrison County
Renters in Harrison County pay a median of $703 a month, 32% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $109,500, a typical Harrison County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 71% of Harrison County households own their home and 29% rent.
| Housing | Harrison County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $703/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $109,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 11% | n/a |
How Harrison County compares with nearby counties
Mercer County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Decatur County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $47,847 in Worth County to $63,984 in Daviess County; 4 of these neighbors top Harrison County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Harrison County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | - | $54,367 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Mercer County, MO | 23 mi | $62,679 | $590/mo | 81% |
| Gentry County, MO | 24 mi | $55,848 | $636/mo | 74% |
| Worth County, MO | 24 mi | $47,847 | $381/mo | 82% |
| Daviess County, MO | 26 mi | $63,984 | $696/mo | 79% |
| Grundy County, MO | 28 mi | $51,975 | $696/mo | 70% |
| Decatur County, IA | 29 mi | $59,044 | $611/mo | 70% |
Towns and communities in Harrison County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 59% of Harrison County residents live in one of the 7. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany | city | 3,080 | $48,375 | $700 | 6 mi |
| Ridgeway | city | 478 | $39,000 | $435 | 4 mi |
| Eagleville | town | 352 | $41,563 | $542 | 9 mi |
| Blythedale | village | 341 | $54,750 | $806 | 10 mi |
| New Hampton | city | 213 | $24,615 | $865 | 12 mi |
| Cainsville | city | 212 | $41,667 | $538 | 13 mi |
| Mount Moriah | town | 121 | $56,875 | n/a | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Harrison County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Harrison County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Harrison County: $4,531
- Median rent: $703, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $883 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,039 total minus rent leaves $1,336
If your rent is above $703, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Harrison County
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 13.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Harrison County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Harrison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Reading the Harrison County data as a borrower
Where the Harrison County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Free help first. 20% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Harrison County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Harrison County
Consumer lenders serving Harrison County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Harrison County household make?
About $54,367 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Missouri median.
What do renters pay in Harrison County?
$703 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Harrison County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bethany, Ridgeway, Eagleville, Blythedale, New Hampton and 2 more.
Will a Harrison County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Harrison County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.